Cleaning system for removing abrading material

Abstract

A cleaning system for removing abrading material adapted to remove and keep separated the abrasive contaminants from a wash rag, mitt, or brush which is capable of being mounted within a standard 5 gallon bucket for the purposes of washing a car, boat, recreational vehicle or the like. The cleaning system is a lattice structure including a scrubber grate which is positioned within the bucket such that a wash rag, mitt, or long handled brush is capable of being vigorously rubbed against the scrubber grate such that any abrasive grit or contaminants within the wash rag, mitt, or long handled brush will become dislodged and settle to the bottom of the cleaning fluid within the bucket. The lattice structure also has a receiver base to support the scrubber grate and is located near the bottom of the bucket. The lattice structure receiver base allows abrasive contaminants and debris to settle to the bottom of the bucket. The lattice structure receiver base cross-bar structure results in dampening the agitation of the cleaning fluid below the receiver base causing the abrasive contaminants to remain near the bottom of the bucket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 059,930 filed on Jun. 9, 2008.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The invention relates generally to removing heavy contaminant particles of dirt, grit, or debris that become entrapped in a wash rag, wash mitt or wash brush used to clean high gloss surfaces and suspending such contaminants in a cleaning solution, and more particularly to a device for removing particles of dirt, grit, or debris from a long-handle wash brush used to wash a recreational vehicle.[0006]2. Description of Related Art[0007]Manufacturers of products with precision or high gloss surfaces such as mirrors, windows, optical lenses, composites such as Corian® countertops, appliances, metal tools, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, auto...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The upstanding scrubber grate attached to the receiver base has an outer peripheral form similar to a parabola. Between the outer extremities are integrally molded laterally extending support beams that provide support for the outer peripheral parabolic edges. The support beams are approximately horizontally disposed at selected spaced distances. Each support beam is further linked to adjacent beams by trusses to provide structural integrity to the upstanding scrubber grate. Further, each beam has a plurality of small ribs integrally molded to each support beam to assist in extracting contaminants from the nap of a wash rag, wash mitt, or wash brush that is rubbed vigorously across the ribs of the scrubber grate.

[0016]The primary objective of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for cleaning high gloss surfaces to remove particles of grit, dirt, or debris from wash rags, wash mitts and / or wash brushes so as to eliminate scratches and abrasions from these high gloss surfaces when they are washed by a car detailer, or automobile, boat, and RV owners.

[0017]Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning device which can conveniently be used to wash high gloss surfaces and is easy to transport and maneuver by the car detailer.

[0018]A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning device wherein long handled brushes used to clean high gloss surfaces can be quickly cleaned to remove dirt particles of grit and debris so as to prevent washing induced swirls and scratches on such high gloss surfaces.

[0019]It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning lattice framework wherein a single device can accomplish the objectives of the invention instead of having to purchase several filter assemblies with a single bucket to avoid the shortcoming of using only one filter element.

[0020]It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a novel cleaning lattice framework that is securely mounted in a standard five gallon bucket and further provides sliding adjustment with respect to the receiver base to secure the lattice framework within the standard five gallon bucket.

Problems solved by technology

Once these temporary coatings are removed, the high gloss products are susceptible to scratches or abrasions.

In spite of these precautionary steps taken by the manufacturer to avoid abrasions to these high gloss surfaces as well as the use of modern paints and clear coating, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and recreational vehicles are still susceptible to surface scratches and abrasions after these products are sold to the purchasing public.

A common source of such scratches or abrasions can be dirt, grit, or debris that often accumulates on wash rags, wash mitts, and wash brushes that are used to wash the exterior of the vehicle.

Further, automatic car washing equipment utilizing recyclable wash water can also contribute to scratching and abrading of high gloss painted surfaces on automobiles.

Unfortunately, hand washing of an automotive vehicle, boat, or RV is a source of scratches and abrasions caused by the dirt, grit, or debris that often accumulates on the wash rags or washes mitts used to wash the exterior of these vehicles.

As the wash water becomes more contaminated with dirt and grit, the wash rag or wash mitt may actually pickup some of the grit or debris that is suspended in the wash water or that has accumulated in the bucket.

Therefore, if the wash rag or wash mitt is not properly rinsed clean, such grit or debris is likely to be transferred back onto the exterior of the glossy surface of the vehicle where it will cause significant damage in the form of scratches to the surface finish of the car, boat, or RV being cleaned.

The prior art has little to offer to solve this problem effectively.

There are several known problems in the use of such prior art dirt, grit, and debris separator.

Therefore, lateral movement is very limited not as much as for a wash rag than it is for a wash mitt or wash brush.

Therefore, the filter assembly has a limited capability of removing grit or debris from a wash mitt because lateral movement of a wash mitt is very limited due to the small diameter of the bucket.

Such a solution can be expensive.

Further, in using the bucket receptacle with the single filter element or multiple elements mounted at the bottom thereof, it is impossible to clean a brush with any type of handle since the bucket is not large enough in diameter to place all of the bristles of the brush against the filter element because the handle of the brush cannot be accommodated within the diameter of the bucket.

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